IP Library Granted Patent US 12,609,136
Granted Patent B2
US 12,609,136 · App. 18/636,683 · Granted Apr 21, 2026

Spin wave assisted MAMR recording head

Inventors: Alexander Goncharov (Morgan Hill, CA); Muhammad Asif Bashir (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
G11B5/3116G11B5/1278G11B5/235G11B5/3133G11B5/314G11B5/3146G11B2005/0024
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,609,136
App. No.
18/636,683
Granted
Apr 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to a magnetic recording device comprising a magnetic recording head. The magnetic recording head comprises a main pole, the main pole comprising a contact recessed from a media facing surface (MFS) and a contact terminal coupled to the contact, a trailing shield disposed adjacent to the main pole, a spin torque oscillator (STO) device disposed between the main pole and the trailing shield, a leading shield disposed adjacent to the main pole, the contact being disposed over the leading shield, a first alternating current (AC) source coupled to the main pole and the contact terminal, and a second AC source coupled to the trailing shield and the main pole. The first AC source is configured to generate an AC field, and the AC field is configured to generate spin waves near the contact to transfer energy to the STO device.

Claims (39)

1 . A magnetic recording head, comprising:

a main pole, the main pole comprising:

a first contact recessed from a media facing surface (MFS), wherein the first contact is disposed perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the main pole; and

a second contact recessed from the MFS, wherein a conductive current path is formed from the second contact through a portion of the main pole to the first contact;

a trailing shield disposed adjacent to the main pole;

a spin torque oscillator (STO) device disposed between the main pole and the trailing shield at the MFS; and

a leading shield disposed adjacent to the main pole, the leading shield being disposed between the first contact and the MFS.

2 . The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the first contact is recessed a distance of about 100 nm to about 200 nm from the MFS.

3 . The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the first contact comprises a conducting, non-magnetic material.

4 . The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the first contact is coupled with an alternating current (AC) source.

5 . The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein a contact terminal is coupled to the first contact, the contact terminal extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the main pole.

6 . A magnetic recording device comprising the magnetic recording head of claim 1 .

7 . The magnetic recording device of claim 6 , wherein, during operation, an alternating current is configured to flow from the main pole towards the MFS to the first contact in an L-like shape.

8 . A magnetic recording device, comprising:

a main pole, the main pole comprising a contact recessed from a media facing surface (MFS) and a contact terminal coupled to the contact, wherein the contact is disposed perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the main pole;

a trailing shield disposed adjacent to the main pole;

a spin torque oscillator (STO) device disposed between the main pole and the trailing shield at the MFS;

a leading shield disposed adjacent to the main pole, the leading shield being disposed between the contact and the MFS;

a first alternating current (AC) power source coupled to the contact terminal; and

a second AC power source coupled to the trailing shield.

9 . The magnetic recording device of claim 8 , wherein the first AC power source is configured to flow alternating current from the main pole, through the contact, to the contact terminal.

10 . The magnetic recording device of claim 8 , wherein the second AC power source is configured to flow alternating current from the trailing shield, through the STO device, to the main pole.

11 . The magnetic recording device of claim 8 , wherein the contact is recessed a distance of about 100 nm to about 200 nm from the MFS, and wherein the contact comprises a conducting, non-magnetic material.

12 . The magnetic recording device of claim 8 , wherein the first AC power source supplies alternating current at a frequency of about 15 GHz to about 30 GHz.

13 . The magnetic recording device of claim 8 , wherein the first AC power source is configured to generate an AC field, and wherein the AC field is configured to generate spin waves near the contact to transfer energy to the STO device.

14 . A magnetic recording device, comprising:

a main pole, the main pole comprising a contact recessed from a media facing surface (MFS) and a contact terminal coupled to the contact, wherein the contact is disposed perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the main pole;

a trailing shield disposed adjacent to the main pole;

a spin torque oscillator (STO) device disposed between the main pole and the trailing shield at the MFS;

a leading shield disposed adjacent to the main pole, the leading shield being disposed between the contact and the MFS;

a first terminal coupled to the trailing shield;

a second terminal coupled to the main pole; and

a third terminal coupled to the contact terminal.

15 . The magnetic recording device of claim 14 , wherein the first terminal and the second terminal are configured to generate a first path from the trailing shield, through the STO device, to the main pole.

16 . The magnetic recording device of claim 15 , wherein a first AC source is coupled to the first terminal and the second terminal to supply alternating current to the first path at a frequency of about 15 GHz to about 30 GHz.

17 . The magnetic recording device of claim 14 , wherein the second terminal and the third terminal are configured to generate a second path from the main pole, through the contact, to the contact terminal.

18 . The magnetic recording device of claim 17 , wherein a second AC source is coupled to the second terminal and the third terminal to supply alternating current to the second path at a frequency of about 15 GHz to about 30 GHz.

19 . The magnetic recording device of claim 14 , wherein the contact is recessed a distance of about 100 nm to about 200 nm from the MFS, and wherein the contact comprises a conducting, non-magnetic material.

20 . The magnetic recording device of claim 14 , wherein the contact terminal is disposed parallel to the main pole.

Assignments (2)
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT (AR) Recorded May 15, 2024
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS THE AGENT
Reel/Frame 067417/0329 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 19, 2024
From: GONCHAROV, ALEXANDER; ASIF BASHIR, MUHAMMAD
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 067160/0431 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250322844A1 · Oct 16, 2025
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